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ericarobyn
This book, while some of it is super outdated, is also really helpful and motivating.
NOTE: This was published May 29th 2007, I read it in 2016/2017.
The tone of the book was perfect; It was professional with a splash of humor here and there. The humor really helped me to stay engaged in the reading.
The information itself is really helpful. Like I said above, some of it is outdated, but many, many times I found myself jumping on my computer to try something that the text suggested. There is a lot of really great insight in this book!
Some of the main topics and passages that really stuck with me include:
* Analysts must have a customer-centric view that enables them to think like customers.
* Customer-centric web design is key- you must shift from "the site visitor needs to do what I want them to do" to "the site visitor is doing whatever they wanted to do" and having success.
* Report creators and analysts are different- the ability to see the big picture is what an analyst does.
* Everything starts with objectives and desired outcomes; "Tell me your objectives and I'll tell you what insights I can provide with the data I have."
* The upward trend in user wariness with paid campaigns puts the focus back on SEO.
* Data will never tell you the why.
* A dashboard=1 single page, any long and that's a report.
* PPC can deliver visitors, but often it comes at a great cost and is suboptimal for building long-term relationships with customers... you are "renting" traffic.
* "In reality, a while bunch of traffic for most websites comes from the top 20 or so key phrases."- are you optimizing for those 20?
* The three greatest survey questions ever: 1) What is the purpose of your visit to our website today? 2) Were you able to complete your task today? 3) If you were NOT able to complete your task today, why not?
Tips I also loved included:
* The So-What Test: Ask every metric that your report on the question "So what? three times. If you don't get an answer by the third ask, you have the wrong metric.
* Check "PPP Campaign Cannibalization Rates" to make sure you aren't paying for traffic you already got organically in the past- test by going dark with PPC.
* Not every visitor is there to buy, so don't focus on single-goal or website travel funnels. That's not how people make decisions.
Useful links that really stood out to me:
* google.com/trends
* site:www.domain.com
* link:www.domain.com
Please keep in mind that these are only the lessons and URL's that really stood out to me. This book is full of hundreds of others.
I would highly recommended purchasing this book so you can highlight and add tabs to mark important pages that you want to go back to again later on!
NOTE: This was published May 29th 2007, I read it in 2016/2017.
The tone of the book was perfect; It was professional with a splash of humor here and there. The humor really helped me to stay engaged in the reading.
The information itself is really helpful. Like I said above, some of it is outdated, but many, many times I found myself jumping on my computer to try something that the text suggested. There is a lot of really great insight in this book!
Some of the main topics and passages that really stuck with me include:
* Analysts must have a customer-centric view that enables them to think like customers.
* Customer-centric web design is key- you must shift from "the site visitor needs to do what I want them to do" to "the site visitor is doing whatever they wanted to do" and having success.
* Report creators and analysts are different- the ability to see the big picture is what an analyst does.
* Everything starts with objectives and desired outcomes; "Tell me your objectives and I'll tell you what insights I can provide with the data I have."
* The upward trend in user wariness with paid campaigns puts the focus back on SEO.
* Data will never tell you the why.
* A dashboard=1 single page, any long and that's a report.
* PPC can deliver visitors, but often it comes at a great cost and is suboptimal for building long-term relationships with customers... you are "renting" traffic.
* "In reality, a while bunch of traffic for most websites comes from the top 20 or so key phrases."- are you optimizing for those 20?
* The three greatest survey questions ever: 1) What is the purpose of your visit to our website today? 2) Were you able to complete your task today? 3) If you were NOT able to complete your task today, why not?
Tips I also loved included:
* The So-What Test: Ask every metric that your report on the question "So what? three times. If you don't get an answer by the third ask, you have the wrong metric.
* Check "PPP Campaign Cannibalization Rates" to make sure you aren't paying for traffic you already got organically in the past- test by going dark with PPC.
* Not every visitor is there to buy, so don't focus on single-goal or website travel funnels. That's not how people make decisions.
Useful links that really stood out to me:
* google.com/trends
* site:www.domain.com
* link:www.domain.com
Please keep in mind that these are only the lessons and URL's that really stood out to me. This book is full of hundreds of others.
I would highly recommended purchasing this book so you can highlight and add tabs to mark important pages that you want to go back to again later on!
This collection begins with a Nord boy and a girl from the South Pole meeting. The two are immediately drawn to one another, but there's a problem- the two cannot get very close. They marry anyway and then sit around telling each other stories. That is where we dive into part the first: the land of Nord.
In this first story we meet three sisters who find a baby one day. When they cannot find his family, they decide to raise him on their own. But when they start to fight over him and who races him the best they go to a local medicine man who splits the boy into three different babies. But during this process something goes wrong, and a fourth bit of his soul escapes.
After thirteen years, the three boys meet and merge back into one. But something is still missing… That fourth piece of his soul. Throughout the rest of the book we follow the boy as he searches for his missing piece.
I loved the writing and the format of this book! I really enjoyed that the story begins in one place, then each following stories all lead into one another seamlessly, and then we wind up where we first began before we venture on into the conclusion. I also really enjoyed all of the extra stories and pages in the appendices section.
The art is so lovely. I really enjoy this style with the bold lines and striking colors. I really appreciate the slight use of color throughout. Rather than fully coloring, the artist choose to use a few colors very sparingly; so when color was included, it was very striking.
I would definitely recommend this! It was such a fun and quick read, and the illustrations were wonderful. 5 stars!
In this first story we meet three sisters who find a baby one day. When they cannot find his family, they decide to raise him on their own. But when they start to fight over him and who races him the best they go to a local medicine man who splits the boy into three different babies. But during this process something goes wrong, and a fourth bit of his soul escapes.
After thirteen years, the three boys meet and merge back into one. But something is still missing… That fourth piece of his soul. Throughout the rest of the book we follow the boy as he searches for his missing piece.
I loved the writing and the format of this book! I really enjoyed that the story begins in one place, then each following stories all lead into one another seamlessly, and then we wind up where we first began before we venture on into the conclusion. I also really enjoyed all of the extra stories and pages in the appendices section.
The art is so lovely. I really enjoy this style with the bold lines and striking colors. I really appreciate the slight use of color throughout. Rather than fully coloring, the artist choose to use a few colors very sparingly; so when color was included, it was very striking.
I would definitely recommend this! It was such a fun and quick read, and the illustrations were wonderful. 5 stars!
*Full Disclosure* I was given a copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review.
In fantasy reads, I really need a lot of world building and a lot of character development right at the start in order for me to get invested in the story. Unfortunately, I felt that this book had neither. I read about a quarter of this book, hoping that things would become more clear to me... But I must have missed something. I had to call it because I was just so lost and uninterested.
In fantasy reads, I really need a lot of world building and a lot of character development right at the start in order for me to get invested in the story. Unfortunately, I felt that this book had neither. I read about a quarter of this book, hoping that things would become more clear to me... But I must have missed something. I had to call it because I was just so lost and uninterested.
Full disclosure: I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
If war stories are in your wheelhouse, I would recommend this book!
Unfortunately, this genre is just not my cup of tea. And because the story begins right in the middle of the action, I felt like I started things off on the wrong foot. I just couldn't keep any of the characters straight in my head because there were so many of them introduced all at once. Through the action, I still couldn't keep track of who each person was.
I did really like the writing itself though! So please do not let my review deter you from reading.
Favorite lines:
"Hold your tongue, Obergefreite, and sit down on that part of your anatomy which has so decisively shaped your character," said the young lieutenant, without looking up from his book.
"Ideals are a wonderful thing, but if a man doesn't know how to get things in perspective at deciding moments, then they can have a destructive effect. It's like with medicine, working out the right dosage as to whether it will heal or poison."
If war stories are in your wheelhouse, I would recommend this book!
Unfortunately, this genre is just not my cup of tea. And because the story begins right in the middle of the action, I felt like I started things off on the wrong foot. I just couldn't keep any of the characters straight in my head because there were so many of them introduced all at once. Through the action, I still couldn't keep track of who each person was.
I did really like the writing itself though! So please do not let my review deter you from reading.
Favorite lines:
"Hold your tongue, Obergefreite, and sit down on that part of your anatomy which has so decisively shaped your character," said the young lieutenant, without looking up from his book.
"Ideals are a wonderful thing, but if a man doesn't know how to get things in perspective at deciding moments, then they can have a destructive effect. It's like with medicine, working out the right dosage as to whether it will heal or poison."
What a neat way to write a memoir! Unfortunately, it fell very flat with me. If it wasn't written as a graphic novel, there is no way that I would have finished reading it. Of course I understand that this is a memoir. I understand that the history and characters are real. So reviewing books like these can be a struggle for me. But unfortunately in this case, I just didn't like the book overall. I am glad that I finished reading it, but I will not be rereading.
In this collection, we follow a girl named Satrapo as she grows up. For a large chunk of the book, we see what Satrapi's childhood was like during the Islamic revolution. When she is a teenager, her parents send her away to attend school to both keep her safe, and keep her education going. She ends up spending years abroad trying to fit in while also trying to figure out just who she is as an individual. We follow her path up until about age 21.
I do have to start off by saying that this book was very difficult for me to read. The main reason was simply because it was about tough topics for me- religion and politics. The second reason, was that this book was a historical account and reading history with all the dates, names, and info dumps just puts me to sleep. I can’t help it. I just can’t stay focused. So this book took me much longer to read than I anticipated.
As a young girl, Satrapi always wanted to understand what was going on. I loved her passion, but I also had a rough time reading about her character (more on that later).
I thought it was heartbreaking to see how confused the poor girl was when the actions and words of her elders didn't make any sense. For example, one day the teacher is telling her that the Shah was chosen by God, but her parents tell her that is not true. Later, after the revolution that same teacher tells the children to tear out any photo of the Shah from their textbooks. When Satrapi mentioned that the teacher was the one that told them he was chosen by God in the first place, the teacher punishes her for bringing it up.
The artwork was fine. It wasn't super compelling, but I enjoyed the simplicity of it.
Beware, the negatives:
I actually found the main character to be more obnoxious and rude than anything else. Sure, I understand that she is trying to portray how open her family was and how unwilling they were to conform to the new politics and religion.
However, as a child, this character reminded me of that one kid in elementary school that ran around telling everybody that Santa Claus wasn't real, and then told everyone to stop being babies when they got upset about it.
Even as she got closer to age 21, her character still bothered me. She didn't seem "bold" as her mother and father stated, she seemed selfish. In so many situations, she reacted in a way that deepened my dislike of her character.
I also had a rough time with the conflicting messages included in this book. But I just read on, trying not to get too caught up in the flip flopping.
The pacing was alright, but I did have a hard time keeping up with her age progression. So I wish that had been more clear.
In this collection, we follow a girl named Satrapo as she grows up. For a large chunk of the book, we see what Satrapi's childhood was like during the Islamic revolution. When she is a teenager, her parents send her away to attend school to both keep her safe, and keep her education going. She ends up spending years abroad trying to fit in while also trying to figure out just who she is as an individual. We follow her path up until about age 21.
I do have to start off by saying that this book was very difficult for me to read. The main reason was simply because it was about tough topics for me- religion and politics. The second reason, was that this book was a historical account and reading history with all the dates, names, and info dumps just puts me to sleep. I can’t help it. I just can’t stay focused. So this book took me much longer to read than I anticipated.
As a young girl, Satrapi always wanted to understand what was going on. I loved her passion, but I also had a rough time reading about her character (more on that later).
I thought it was heartbreaking to see how confused the poor girl was when the actions and words of her elders didn't make any sense. For example, one day the teacher is telling her that the Shah was chosen by God, but her parents tell her that is not true. Later, after the revolution that same teacher tells the children to tear out any photo of the Shah from their textbooks. When Satrapi mentioned that the teacher was the one that told them he was chosen by God in the first place, the teacher punishes her for bringing it up.
The artwork was fine. It wasn't super compelling, but I enjoyed the simplicity of it.
Beware, the negatives:
I actually found the main character to be more obnoxious and rude than anything else. Sure, I understand that she is trying to portray how open her family was and how unwilling they were to conform to the new politics and religion.
However, as a child, this character reminded me of that one kid in elementary school that ran around telling everybody that Santa Claus wasn't real, and then told everyone to stop being babies when they got upset about it.
Even as she got closer to age 21, her character still bothered me. She didn't seem "bold" as her mother and father stated, she seemed selfish. In so many situations, she reacted in a way that deepened my dislike of her character.
I also had a rough time with the conflicting messages included in this book. But I just read on, trying not to get too caught up in the flip flopping.
The pacing was alright, but I did have a hard time keeping up with her age progression. So I wish that had been more clear.
I cannot believe it took me this long to finally check out this series. I think Joe Hill's books are absolutely incredible! I'm so ecstatic that he has ventured into comics!
If you've been waiting to check this series out, don't wait any longer! Go grab it today!
Summary:
In this first volume we meet the Locke family; Rendell (father), Nina (mother), Tyler (oldest son), Kinsey (middle daughter), and Bode (youngest son). While at their summer home, two disgruntled students that had Rendell as a guidance counselor show up and demand that he give them keys. When Rendell says he doesn't know what they are talking about, the students murder him. Tyler witnesses the whole thing and then has to fight back while his two younger siblings hide.
After the funeral for Rendell, the family goes to Lovecraft, Massachusetts to stay at a house called Keyhouse. Right away Bode discovers a few paranormal features of the house; a key that opens a door which turns you into a ghost when you pass through, and a woman who speaks to him from the bottom of a well. Because Bode is so young and has just been through a trauma, his family thinks he is making it all up. But those things are very real. And someone is coming for the keys...
My thoughts:
I did not do any research before diving into this book. I simply saw that it was by Joe Hill and wanted to check it out. This first volume sat on my TBR for an embarrassingly long time, but now that I have read it, I can already tell you that it is going to be one of my all time favorite series (dear other volumes, please don't let me down!).
The storyline was suspenseful and very dark. The action starts right away and carries through the rest of the volume. This is definitely a comic for a mature audience. There was a lot of violence and blood, but it was so wonderfully done. I loved all of the paranormal features.
The artwork was perfect for the storyline. I really enjoyed the color palette, the various facial expressions of the characters, and all of the detail! One panel completely freaked me out because it was a bit dark with Bode in the forefront. So when I saw the background, I actually jumped!
The flow of this collection was also wonderful. Whether it was a chapter break or a setting jump on the same page, you can tell that the transitions were really thought out, and therefore they were executed perfectly. For example, on one page we see a character about to shoot a gun in one panel, and then in the next a track coach is pointing her hand in the air and shouting "bang" to start a race.
The main storyline started with a bang but then did a bit of backtracking through the use of "then" and "now" sections. These flashbacks were added in the perfect places throughout the volume. I really enjoyed getting more information about the characters and their backstories as we went.
I loved all of the siblings in the Locke family and I cannot wait to see where the other volumes bring them. Of course there were some other characters that I didn't love, but I did really appreciate how creepy they were!
My final thoughts:
Highly recommended! 5 stars!
If you've been waiting to check this series out, don't wait any longer! Go grab it today!
Summary:
In this first volume we meet the Locke family; Rendell (father), Nina (mother), Tyler (oldest son), Kinsey (middle daughter), and Bode (youngest son). While at their summer home, two disgruntled students that had Rendell as a guidance counselor show up and demand that he give them keys. When Rendell says he doesn't know what they are talking about, the students murder him. Tyler witnesses the whole thing and then has to fight back while his two younger siblings hide.
After the funeral for Rendell, the family goes to Lovecraft, Massachusetts to stay at a house called Keyhouse. Right away Bode discovers a few paranormal features of the house; a key that opens a door which turns you into a ghost when you pass through, and a woman who speaks to him from the bottom of a well. Because Bode is so young and has just been through a trauma, his family thinks he is making it all up. But those things are very real. And someone is coming for the keys...
My thoughts:
I did not do any research before diving into this book. I simply saw that it was by Joe Hill and wanted to check it out. This first volume sat on my TBR for an embarrassingly long time, but now that I have read it, I can already tell you that it is going to be one of my all time favorite series (dear other volumes, please don't let me down!).
The storyline was suspenseful and very dark. The action starts right away and carries through the rest of the volume. This is definitely a comic for a mature audience. There was a lot of violence and blood, but it was so wonderfully done. I loved all of the paranormal features.
The artwork was perfect for the storyline. I really enjoyed the color palette, the various facial expressions of the characters, and all of the detail! One panel completely freaked me out because it was a bit dark with Bode in the forefront. So when I saw the background, I actually jumped!
The flow of this collection was also wonderful. Whether it was a chapter break or a setting jump on the same page, you can tell that the transitions were really thought out, and therefore they were executed perfectly. For example, on one page we see a character about to shoot a gun in one panel, and then in the next a track coach is pointing her hand in the air and shouting "bang" to start a race.
The main storyline started with a bang but then did a bit of backtracking through the use of "then" and "now" sections. These flashbacks were added in the perfect places throughout the volume. I really enjoyed getting more information about the characters and their backstories as we went.
I loved all of the siblings in the Locke family and I cannot wait to see where the other volumes bring them. Of course there were some other characters that I didn't love, but I did really appreciate how creepy they were!
My final thoughts:
Highly recommended! 5 stars!
The storyline of Giant Days Volume Four is centered around the girls trying to find housing for their next year of university. For months Daisy had been trying to convince the girls to make a plan, but it wasn't until Esther ran into money problems that the girls finally took things seriously. In this volume, the girls also take a stab at making movies and Susan tries to start dating again.
I really enjoyed this volume. The characters were their usual quirky and dramatic selves. The humor was lovely! There were many panels that made me laugh out loud.
I really appreciated that the artwork in this volume was the same style that we saw in Volume 3. So I really liked seeing that the characters expressions were still over exaggerated and that the backgrounds were drawn to match their extreme emotions.
I gave this volume five stars! I cannot wait to get my hands on volume five!
I really enjoyed this volume. The characters were their usual quirky and dramatic selves. The humor was lovely! There were many panels that made me laugh out loud.
I really appreciated that the artwork in this volume was the same style that we saw in Volume 3. So I really liked seeing that the characters expressions were still over exaggerated and that the backgrounds were drawn to match their extreme emotions.
I gave this volume five stars! I cannot wait to get my hands on volume five!
Unfortunately this book was just not for me. I can definitely see where other readers would really enjoy it, so please do NOT let my negative review deter you from reading it. This book just hit on all of my personal reading irks.
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.
Summary:
In this book we follow a twenty-six year old actor named Otto Digmore. Otto has been deemed too "different" for Hollywood because half of his face is covered in burn scars from a childhood accident. He lands a support character role on a hit tv show that puts him on the map. But when that show gets cancelled, things look bleak.
However, Otto soon gets the opportunity to audition for a role that could change everything. The casting crew loves him, but there's only one problem; he needed to audition in front of one person who is no longer in LA. So Otto and his ex boyfriend, Russel go on a while goose chase across the country to complete the audition. Their travels are filled with the most ridiculous adventures. But even if they can make it across country in time, will Otto get the role?
Beware, the negatives:
Right off, I didn’t like the main character, Otto. He seemed incredibly self centered and whiney to me. I understand that he’s had a tough go with his facial scarring, but man…He was just way too much for me. I just felt that he came off as a very strange mix of intense cockiness but with incredibly low self esteem.
Otto's internal monologues and general thoughts were so incredibly repetitive that I couldn’t stand them. I got really sick of him because all of his thoughts were center around the same topics- none of which I was even interested in to begin with. His internal monologues did a lot of unnecessary summarizing as well…Like the author had to remind the reader what they had just read.
Of course the major theme here is Hollywood and acting. Two things that aren’t very interesting to me to begin with. So I ended up skimming quite a bit of the long winded bits centered around these themes.
I did enjoy the storyline. Honestly, that was the only thing that kept me reading. I wanted to see if Otto could make it to his audition. Of course it was a very "cliched” storyline that had a very predictable path.
But I also felt that the story dragged. I really enjoyed two scenes; the highway situation and visiting the siblings at the trailer park, but that was really it. The ending also made me really uncomfortable after all of Otto’s thoughts about still being in love with Russel...
My final thoughts:
I think I would have liked this book a lot more if it hadn’t been so darn repetitive. But unfortunately it was.
Again, please do NOT let my negative review deter you from reading it. I think most people will find this story more of a fun read than I did.
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.
Summary:
In this book we follow a twenty-six year old actor named Otto Digmore. Otto has been deemed too "different" for Hollywood because half of his face is covered in burn scars from a childhood accident. He lands a support character role on a hit tv show that puts him on the map. But when that show gets cancelled, things look bleak.
However, Otto soon gets the opportunity to audition for a role that could change everything. The casting crew loves him, but there's only one problem; he needed to audition in front of one person who is no longer in LA. So Otto and his ex boyfriend, Russel go on a while goose chase across the country to complete the audition. Their travels are filled with the most ridiculous adventures. But even if they can make it across country in time, will Otto get the role?
Beware, the negatives:
Right off, I didn’t like the main character, Otto. He seemed incredibly self centered and whiney to me. I understand that he’s had a tough go with his facial scarring, but man…He was just way too much for me. I just felt that he came off as a very strange mix of intense cockiness but with incredibly low self esteem.
Otto's internal monologues and general thoughts were so incredibly repetitive that I couldn’t stand them. I got really sick of him because all of his thoughts were center around the same topics- none of which I was even interested in to begin with. His internal monologues did a lot of unnecessary summarizing as well…Like the author had to remind the reader what they had just read.
Of course the major theme here is Hollywood and acting. Two things that aren’t very interesting to me to begin with. So I ended up skimming quite a bit of the long winded bits centered around these themes.
I did enjoy the storyline. Honestly, that was the only thing that kept me reading. I wanted to see if Otto could make it to his audition. Of course it was a very "cliched” storyline that had a very predictable path.
But I also felt that the story dragged. I really enjoyed two scenes; the highway situation and visiting the siblings at the trailer park, but that was really it. The ending also made me really uncomfortable after all of Otto’s thoughts about still being in love with Russel...
My final thoughts:
I think I would have liked this book a lot more if it hadn’t been so darn repetitive. But unfortunately it was.
Again, please do NOT let my negative review deter you from reading it. I think most people will find this story more of a fun read than I did.
This volume begins with the death of a teacher at the Locke siblings school. The death is hitting Kinsey very hard, and even she isn't sure why. Meanwhile, Bode has found another key. After searching the house, he discovers that this key doesn't open a door... it opens up a person's head! And when their heads are open, it is possible to put things in as well as take things out. Bode shows what happens to his siblings and finally gets them to believe all the other paranormal things he had tried to tell them.
Unfortunately the siblings don't keep the key to themselves; Tyler brings two friends from school over to help them cram for a test. And by cramming, he means literally shoving textbooks into their heads after opening them up with the key. One student runs out of the house, while the other, "Zack Wells," is just a bit too interested.
My thoughts:
I really enjoyed the storyline in this volume as well. Again, it started with a bang and then continued in a fast pace. There were also a few flashback sequences in this one, but not nearly as many as in the first volume. These flashbacks gave us more backstory for Duncan as well as information about Ellie and her connection to Zack Wells.
I really enjoyed getting to see more of the siblings interacting with one another in this volume! The two older siblings reactions to Bode opening up his head was hysterical. On that note, the humor that was added into this volume was wonderful!
I also really enjoyed that we got to learn a little more about Uncle Duncan in this volume.
Just like Volume 1, I really loved the overall dark and suspenseful tone. I thought the artwork was lovely. And I really enjoyed the flow of the storyline and the perfectly executed transitions.
My favorite passage:
Bode: "How do you feel?"
Kinsey: "Like anything could happen and that would be all right. Like the next thing that happens will be a Christmas present. Good. Bad. Whatever. I can't wait to open it."
My final thoughts:
I cannot wait to get my hands on Volume 3!
Unfortunately the siblings don't keep the key to themselves; Tyler brings two friends from school over to help them cram for a test. And by cramming, he means literally shoving textbooks into their heads after opening them up with the key. One student runs out of the house, while the other, "Zack Wells," is just a bit too interested.
My thoughts:
I really enjoyed the storyline in this volume as well. Again, it started with a bang and then continued in a fast pace. There were also a few flashback sequences in this one, but not nearly as many as in the first volume. These flashbacks gave us more backstory for Duncan as well as information about Ellie and her connection to Zack Wells.
I really enjoyed getting to see more of the siblings interacting with one another in this volume! The two older siblings reactions to Bode opening up his head was hysterical. On that note, the humor that was added into this volume was wonderful!
I also really enjoyed that we got to learn a little more about Uncle Duncan in this volume.
Just like Volume 1, I really loved the overall dark and suspenseful tone. I thought the artwork was lovely. And I really enjoyed the flow of the storyline and the perfectly executed transitions.
My favorite passage:
Bode: "How do you feel?"
Kinsey: "Like anything could happen and that would be all right. Like the next thing that happens will be a Christmas present. Good. Bad. Whatever. I can't wait to open it."
My final thoughts:
I cannot wait to get my hands on Volume 3!
Gosh, I love this series!
Summary:
In this volume, Nina (the siblings mother) has really hit rock bottom with her drinking. This causes a lot of drama with the family, and the two older siblings are sick of it. Meanwhile, Kinsey's lack of fear almost gets her killed, the siblings are attacked by shadows while the mom is away, and three new keys are discovered.
My thoughts:
Everything about this volume was just as lovely as volumes one and two; I loved the pacing and the flow of the storyline, and the artwork and color palettes were wonderful.
I continued to enjoy the banter between each of the siblings. I also really enjoyed that we got to see more of Nina's character in this volume. Though seeing her in such rough shape was difficult. Her drinking clearly became a major problem in this volume, and I really hope that she gets her act together soon. However, I thought the way that the older siblings handled the situation was very interesting. How calm and level-headed Tyler is really refreshing, especially considering what he's been through.
I was so nervous during the scene in the East Battery 13 Lvcraft Station. The suspense and fear there was very well done! As were the fight scenes between Dodge and Sam, and the siblings and the shadows.
My favorite passage:
Dodge: No, really. What's up with the life preserver?
Kinsey: Some friends gave it to me. So I'm wearing it.
Dodge: Uhh..Yeah. Okay. Seriously. Do you have any idea how... LAME you look... I mean, there are people laughing...
Kinsey: My FRIENDS will think it's cool. I'm not really worried about anyone else's opinions. Hey! Jamal! Scot!
Dodge: Wait. THOSE are the friends we're talking about? Kavanaugh and Saturday? Hey, I haven't been at Lovecraft Academy any longer than you, but even I know that hanging out with those two is jumping off the social cliff into the deep seas of uncool...
Kinsey: That so? Well I guess this is where I say "Geronimo."
My final thoughts:
I would highly recommend this volume. Another 5 stars! On to Volume 4!
Summary:
In this volume, Nina (the siblings mother) has really hit rock bottom with her drinking. This causes a lot of drama with the family, and the two older siblings are sick of it. Meanwhile, Kinsey's lack of fear almost gets her killed, the siblings are attacked by shadows while the mom is away, and three new keys are discovered.
My thoughts:
Everything about this volume was just as lovely as volumes one and two; I loved the pacing and the flow of the storyline, and the artwork and color palettes were wonderful.
I continued to enjoy the banter between each of the siblings. I also really enjoyed that we got to see more of Nina's character in this volume. Though seeing her in such rough shape was difficult. Her drinking clearly became a major problem in this volume, and I really hope that she gets her act together soon. However, I thought the way that the older siblings handled the situation was very interesting. How calm and level-headed Tyler is really refreshing, especially considering what he's been through.
I was so nervous during the scene in the East Battery 13 Lvcraft Station. The suspense and fear there was very well done! As were the fight scenes between Dodge and Sam, and the siblings and the shadows.
My favorite passage:
Dodge: No, really. What's up with the life preserver?
Kinsey: Some friends gave it to me. So I'm wearing it.
Dodge: Uhh..Yeah. Okay. Seriously. Do you have any idea how... LAME you look... I mean, there are people laughing...
Kinsey: My FRIENDS will think it's cool. I'm not really worried about anyone else's opinions. Hey! Jamal! Scot!
Dodge: Wait. THOSE are the friends we're talking about? Kavanaugh and Saturday? Hey, I haven't been at Lovecraft Academy any longer than you, but even I know that hanging out with those two is jumping off the social cliff into the deep seas of uncool...
Kinsey: That so? Well I guess this is where I say "Geronimo."
My final thoughts:
I would highly recommend this volume. Another 5 stars! On to Volume 4!